My mid-life crisis has fully manifested itself.

I bought a car.  Or rather I will be buying this car every month for the next six years.

Sailor Babo digs the color scheme.

What is pale grey-blue, sports a white hat, has big wide eyes, and makes me squee inside every time I see it?

Of course she needs a name. Contenders so far: Momo, Audrey, Kate, Iris, Babette, Brenda, Wanda, Bridget, Sabrina, the Blue Manatee, and my officemate suggested Minette, but that has some slang connotations I’d rather avoid.

I’ve wanted one of these things for 10 years.  I haven’t owned a car in 7 years.  I seem to be making a trip to the vet every week now, and I really want to get out of the city more.  I could get cancer next year and I don’t want to go to my grave wishing I had enjoyed driving one of these (other than as a Zipcar which seems to be phasing them out of their fleet, at least in Seattle).  Even if I will only drive it, like, 5,000 miles a year.  (It will last longer that way, anyway.)

a confession and a bunch of random bullets

Confession:

I usually avoid posting things because I typically feel too overwhelmed to respond to comments and I feel guilty that I am not commenting on other people’s posts.   So please don’t take any lack of response from me personally, or feel compelled to leave comments here.

Random bullets:

• Today I got my bangs back.
• I started a community college non-credit French class last week to prepare for next October’s trip to Paris.  Like!
• Lucy scarily has a partially paralyzed face, since a week ago last Sunday.  Cause as yet unknown.  Maybe high blood pressure led to a small stroke?  (she’s been tested twice since then and starts blood pressure medication as soon as the compounded transdermal arrives in the mail).  If she’s not significantly better by the 14th, it’s off to the kitty neurologist for an MRI.  Meanwhile, there’s a twice-daily struggle to administer artificial tears.
• Ella continues to dislike Lucy.  Ella also has high ionized blood calcium.  The impact of dietary changes will be tested later this month.
• Ella still doesn’t like Lucy and I kinda regret adopting Lucy.  But I will continue to offer her a forever home and whatever veterinary care she needs.
• I am really jonesing to buy a car.  All these trips to the vet are getting to be an expensive drag via Zipcar.   A used Mini, a Fiat, or, most sensibly, a Honda Fit are potential choices.  In any case, I dread dealing with the car salesman.  It may well happen this weekend.
• Work is busy.  That’s good though, due to vet bills, and probably soon a car payment.
• Pacific Northwest Ballet started its new season last week.  I am still smitten (especially with James Moore and Carrie Imler this go round).  Feel so lucky that this wonderful company is right here in my new hometown.  And turns out, I like Twyla Tharp.

• I will fly to Cincinnati for a 6-day visit later this month (barring any veterinary emergencies).
• I’m looking forward to seeing the Cincinnati Ballet’s Swan Lake when in town.  Even if it’s not PNB.
• Last week I turned 49.  WTF.
• Ce vendredi, j’apprends faire des crêpes.  (I probably said that incorrectly.)
• Am currently reading Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit and Danny Gregory’s The Creative License.
• Here are a few random sketches and photos:

ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Allen Toussaint

birthday cake at Dilettante

the wine that inexplicably reminded me of Florida.

Beth Orton, waiting for that first-time feeling

On the #43, late for meeting Kitty @ the movies (Thérèse)